DIY Barnaul Tour

Your tour starts with Demidov Square. It is named after Akinfiy Demidov who founded Barnaul silver and copper smelting works. The process of the square building began in 1819. It is the only architectural ensemble in Siberia. Demidov Square is framed by the mining hospital (the yellow building), mining school (the green building) and almshouse with the Church of Saint Dmitry of Rostov. Right in the middle of the square you can see the obelisk - Demidov Pillar. It was erected to celebrate a 100-years anniversary of mining production in Altai.

To continue the tour you need to cross the avenue (Krasnoarmeisky Prospekt) near Demidov Square. You will find yourself in Polzunova Street.

On both sides of Polzunova Street remained historical buildings of 18-19 centuries. In 1947 the street got its modern name after the first steam-engine inventor, Ivan Polzunov.

There used to be Kolyvano-Voskresensk factories chancery in the first building from Krasnoarmeisky Avenue. Further along the street you will see a building (39 Polzunova Ulitsa) that used to be a tool store (1824) for materials and tools and factories treasury storage. Across the street (46 Polzunova Ulitsa) there is a building of a former main chemistry laboratory of Altai district. Now Altai state regional museum is located here. Next to the museum you will find the building of the main drafting office of Altai mining district (48 Polzunova Ulitsa), on the other side of the building the directorate of Altai mining district and Mining pharmacy (42 Polzunova Ulitsa) are situated.

It was the first brick building in Barnaul, designed by the architect, Andrei Molchanov. Since the working conditions at the silver smelting works were difficult, the pharmacy was founded for maintaining workers’ health.

During Siberia development the hospitals were provided with medicine, tools and other patient-care items through the Mining pharmacy. Remedies were also prepared here from the herbs collected in the pharmaceutical garden which used to be opposite the pharmacy.

The building was restored in 2012. Now here one can visit the regional tourist attraction “Gornaya apteka” with Altai pharmacy history museum, a gift shop and a restaurant.

After the Polzunova Street crossroads you will find yourself next to the park.

In archive transcripts the park is mentioned as “Aptechny ogorod” (lit. «Pharmaceutical garden»), where about 400 species of herbs grew. In order to provide medical centres of Kolyvano-Voskresensk factories with materials for remedies, Sergei Shangin, the regimental surgeon, founded Botanical garden here.

The urban garden was established in 1886. The garden later became a recreation park for the inhabitants of Barnaul.

In front of the main entrance of “Tsentralny” park the first square in Barnaul can be seen.

Freedom Square got its new name in 1917. Earlier it used to be called Freedom Square. In 1749 the Church of the Holy Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul was erected. The church completed the outlook of Petropavlovskaya line, (now - Polzunova Street).

At the beginning of 20 century in the square there were buildings of Altai district directorate general, cinema, treasury, female gymnasium, almshouse and a church school.

Now you can head to the Highland park. It has panoramic view overlooking the city and the Ob River.

The park was first mentioned in 1772. Until 1930s a cemetery was located on this territory. In 1774 here was built a wooden church of St.John the Baptist, then the new stone church, designed by Yakov Popov, was erected in 1850.

The Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy worked here from 1956 to 1992.

Now one can visit the restored church of St.John the Baptist and the park, which is perfect for a walk or for enjoying the view over the river and the city.

The next place to visit is an embankment, to which you can climb down the stairs behind the church.

The embankment was opened in June 2018. It is 514 meters long. It was built with funding of the federal program “Inbound and domestic tourism development in the Russian Federation”.

One can relax here, stroll and enjoy the splendid view over the Ob River. Benches, shade structures and beautiful flowerpots are installed for people’s comfort and convenience. At night the embankment has nice lighting.

After a walk, you will get to Barnaul river station and then Bavarina Square.

The square is named after Vladimir Bavarin, the head of Barnaul from 1991 to 2003. A memorial sign – a vase made of Revnevo undulated jasper, was erected to his memory. Kolyvan masters made the half-shaped vase, symbolizing his tragically interrupted life. The square is the beginning of Lenina Avenue – one of the first avenues that appeared in Barnaul.

Then you can move upwards Lenina Avenue.

Lenin Avenue was previously called Bogoroditskiy pereulok (lit. «Our Lady Lane») - in honor of the Church of Our Lady of the Way, destroyed in 1935. At the beginning of the 20 century, the avenue became the main shopping street of Barnaul with its stores made of brick with large windows and advertising, residential merchant houses and electricity. Since the 1920s it had different names: Bulvarnaya Street, Sadovaya Street, and then – Moskovsky Prospekt and Sovietsky Prospekt. In 1924, the avenue was given its current name.

The tour continues along the bridge over the Barnaulka River.

The bridge was reconstructed in 2017. Stonecutters decorated it with stone elements and cast iron bas-reliefs. It depicts different historical periods of the development of the city.

From the bridge you will get to the promenade area of the embankment, which you will see on the left.

Having crossed the bridge, you face the first pedestrian street, Malo-Tobolskaya Street, on your left. This is one of the oldest street s in Barnaul. Its name is associated with the resettlement of Tobolsk artisans. Malo-Tobolskaya Street has been trading since 1748. There were the trading houses of Dmitry Laletin (34 Malo-Tobolskaya Street) and Dmitry Sukhov and Sons (36 Malo-Tobolskaya Street). Since January 15, 1945, during the Great Patriotic War, the street was given the name of Lazar Waxman, a prominent doctor of the Altai Krai. In 1952, the street got back its historical name – Malo-Tobolskaya.

On Malo-Tobolskaya Street you can visit the Old Bazaar, buy souvenirs or spend time in a cafe.

The next historic street is parallel to Malo-Tobolskaya Street.

In documents of 1757, the street is mentioned as Tobolskaya Street in the village of Barnaul Plant. This name is associated with the resettlement of Tobolsk artisans to Barnaul. it was a commercial street like the other central street s of Barnaul at that time. Famous merchants of the time lived and traded here in two-story houses. The first floor of a house was usually allocated for a shop, the upper - for offices and apartments. The Morozovs, the Sukhovs, the Smirnovs, the Vtorovs - famous merchant families – lived here.

Thus, Andrey Morozov sold a wide range of products in his trading house. In 1914, Andrei Morozov’s company was the first in terms of trade turnover in Barnaul. Later, his son became famous for being the first car owner in the city. The Morozov’s business competed with the Sukhovs, who are well-known for the fact that both father and son were chosen a mayor at different times.

Their neighbor, Ivan Smirnov, was elected a member of the Barnaul City Council. In 1909, it was he to own the largest store in the city by that time.

In 1910, the Barnaul community decided to rename the street in honor of the Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy.